G-A Community School District and the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Service Department (KCHCS) statement regarding the recent COIVD-19 outbreak:
Out of an abundance of caution, GACS District has decided to close all school buildings due to individuals testing positive for COVID-19 within the Early Childhood Special Education classroom (ECSE). At this time, there are three positive cases associated with this outbreak.
The KCHCS uses the CDC outbreak definition, which is when two or more cases are epidemiologically linked. Per the CDC guidelines, individuals who have tested positive have been isolated, and individuals who have been identified as a close contact have been notified and quarantined. To date, there is no known exposure outside of the ECSE classroom.
KCHCS is working closely with GACS on all public health recommendations for the school district, ECSE Center, and those identified as affected individuals.
GACS District is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Thursday, October 1, 2020. Further communication will be sent confirming this reopen date.
For safety of our students today’s middle school volleyball game has been cancelled. All practices are also cancelled. (VB,XC). If we are able to attend school tomorrow volleyball will have team pictures after school. Middle school cross country meet is at Lawton
This weekend you received an email regarding one of our G-A family members who has tested positive for Covid -19. Those individuals who were considered a close contact were already advised to quarantine. As the weekend has progressed, we want to be proactive with the health department and further investigate the information we have received. Therefore on Monday, September 28th, 2020 all district programs including preschool, daycare, the enhancement center and K-12 buildings will be closed for in person instruction. Teachers in K-12 will be providing online learning opportunities for their students. Please follow your at home learning schedule. For further details, access your teachers Seesaw or Google Classroom.
Please know that the health and safety of our staff and students is of utmost importance.
Don't forget that it is Picture Day for the Gold Cohort tomorrow. Any G-AMS KVIC students who did not get their pictures taken with the Cardinal Cohort may take part tomorrow with the Gold Cohort, starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending by 10:00 a.m.
Congratulations to our 7th and 8th grade volleyballs teams for defeating Delton Kellogg tonight. Go Rams
MS volleyball bus leaves today at 3:30 from the Primary. Game is at Constsntine
*** Free Meal Delivery & Pick Up TOMORROW 9/23 ***
On Wednesdays, we will be delivering 5 days worth of meals.
~ The buses will leave the high school at 10 AM.
~ They will run their normal PM bus routes delivering meals. Please keep an eye out for your bus!
~ If your child is a virtual student or does not have a bus stop, you may pick up your meals at the PS or the MS. If you would like to be added to a bus stop or have questions about your closest stop, please contact the bus garage at 269-484-2015 or melissa.daniels2@garams.org.
Meals will also be available for pick up at the Primary School & Middle School on Wednesdays 10:30 - 11:30 AM.
There has been a late change in times for tomorrow’s Cross Country meet at Parchment. The bus will leave the Middle School at 3:1 0 and the pick up 8th graders at the High School at 3:20. Middle School race will start at 5:30. Please only 2 family members per student. Thank you.
6th and 7th Grade Parents........click on the "Documents" tab to access a parent letter regarding the middle school Hybrid Learning Model adjustments and how to assist your student with scheduling his/her online learning days.
Middle School volleyball games tomorrow vs St. Monica. 7th grade game will start at 4:15. 8th grade will start approximately at 5:30. Reminder that only 2 family members per athlete allowed to attend. Please park in back parking lot and use the entry doors on the north side of the building.
Great Opportunity:
Kalamazoo County public elementary students in need are eligible to receive a FREE pair of athletic shoes from First Day Shoe Fund. Due to COVID-19. This year's shoe distribution will be a drive-thru event. Please join us at Wings Event Center to collect your child's shoes from the First Day Shoe Fund.
--There will be a designated area in the parking lot to try on shoes in a safe manner.
--Masks are required for anyone interacting with volunteers/staff of First Day Shoe Fund/Wings Event Center. Extra masks will be available on site.
--Families may arrive Friday 9/18 or Saturday 9/19 between 9:00 and 5:30.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO PRE-REGISTER TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.
--If you are in need but cannot attend the event, please send your name, contact info, child's shoe size, and either tie or velcro to Emily Walker at emily.walker@garams.org
Cross Country meet today at Constantine. Bus leaves from the High School at 2:30. Busing today is two way
Pay to play participate money is due on Friday, September 18. The fee is $25. Please pay at the Middle School office. Thank you
Tonight, the middle school hosts its first 8th grade volleyball game.
Important....Important...Please park in the back parking lot and enter the building through the back doors. The front entrance will be locked.
**PICTURE DAY COHORTS AND DATES***
The G-A middle school will be having separate picture days for CARDINAL and GOLD COHORTS this year:
CARDINAL cohort will be on 9/15/2020 in the am hours.
Gold cohort will be on 9/25/2020 in the am hours.
KVIC students may attend either of these dates.
Masks must be worn into the building, and social distancing must be observed. Purchases will be made online this year; please use the order link below. The order code is also on the attached bulletin.
Order online at inter-state.com/FlyerEntry/50913KF
Student Drop off and Pick up at the Middle School
The middle school is experiencing some difficulty with traffic blocking the entry and exit of school buses. If you drop off and/or pick up your student at the middle school, please follow these procedures:
• Drop off / pick up at the front of the building
• Follow all one-way signage
• If all spaces in the front loading / unloading zone (parallel with the front sidewalk) are full, PLEASE PARK IN THE LOT. After parking in the lot, you can:
o Get out of your vehicle to escort your student to or from the front entry area (for safety purposes, DO NOT allow your student to walk, unescorted, through the parking lot) OR
o Wait for a spot to be vacated in the loading / unloading zone and move your vehicle to the open spot for drop off / pick up
• It is imperative that no vehicles line up outside of the designated loading / unloading zone. If vehicles line up at the perimeter of the parking lot and in the driveway leading to the back parking lot, this impedes or blocks bus traffic.
THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES AND ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN
We are looking forward to our first Middle School volleyball game on Monday, September 14th. 7th grade game will start at 4:00. The Governor’s executive order is limiting attendance. Each athlete will be given 2 tickets for family to attend. Social distancing will be expected when in the gym. I would encourage 8th grade parents to not attend until 5:00. 7th grade parents are encouraged to leave after the completion of the 7th grade game. Masks are required. No one will be allowed in the school without a mask.
7th and 8th grade Volleyball practice today 3:30-5;30 . Practice will be inside the gym today. Masks are required. First game is Monday, September 14 vs Kalamazoo Christian. 7th grade will start at 4:00. Limited spectators will be allowed to attend.
*** Meal Delivery TODAY ***
We will be delivering 5 days of breakfast & lunch. Buses will be following our regular morning bus routes, like this last spring.
This first week the buses will leave the high school at 1:30 PM and stop at their normal morning stops. Please keep an eye out for the bus!
Meals will also be available for pick up TODAY at the Primary school 2:30 - 3:15 PM.
** NEXT week, meal delivery will start at 10:00 AM. **
G-A Community Schools Bus Procedures 🙂
https://www.wevideo.com/view/1817394084